Justin Harris pleads guilty to assault with a weapon over ‘no smoking’ rule

A man stabbed his brother-in-law in the face with a steak knife after being told he couldn’t smoke weed, a court has heard.

Justin Harris covered his face as he left Geelong court on Monday.

A man stabbed his brother-in-law in the face with a steak knife after being told he couldn’t smoke weed, a court has heard.

Justin Harris, 51, appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to a single charge of assault with a weapon.

Two other charges, recklessly causing injury and making threats to kill, were withdrawn.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable James French told the court that Harris and his family were visiting relatives on the Bellarine Peninsula on April 12 this year.

Upon arrival, Harris’ brother-in-law told him there was a “no smoking marijuana” rule in the home and an argument broke out.

During the altercation, the court heard Harris picked up a steak knife while holding his brother-in-law in a headlock and “pushed it against (the victim’s) face”.

He threatened to kill the man, before stabbing him in the left cheek, the court was told.

The resulting wound was a 1cm deep by 1cm wide laceration.

The victim screamed and broke free from Harris’ grip before running outside, the court heard.

The incident took place in front of family members including Harris’ two children, aged 22 and 17, and his 22-year-old niece.

Harris was arrested while his victim went to a hospital, but left before receiving treatment.

The court heard Harris admitted to being at the house when interviewed by police, but denied a steak knife was involved in the incident.

Magistrate Kimberly Swadesir told the court Harris might be facing a spell behind bars when Mr Harris’ lawyer asked for a sentence indication.

However, Ms Swadesir said if the matter resolved as a plea to the single charge, the sentence she would impose would not involve any jail.

The proposed resolution was “very generous” given the charges originally filed, Ms Swadesir said, noting that while Harris had been to court in the past, he had never been convicted of an assault charge.

“You’re not unknown to the criminal justice system, but … physical violence is not something that features in your history,” she said.

The matter was briefly stood down so Harris could consider a plea, and he ultimately accepted.

Harris’ lawyer told the court that her client was remorseful about the altercation and “regrets it entirely”.

She said the Carrum Downs man had no issues with the victim prior or since the incident, and has made no effort to minimise his involvement.

Harris was convicted and placed on an 18-month CCO, despite being found unsuitable by Corrections Victoria.

Magistrate Swadesir said it was an “incredibly serious” crime, resulting in a “significant” laceration.

She said she felt the “extensive order” satisfied sentencing obligations,

“Physical violence of any sort is not tolerated by the courts,” she said, adding it “just does not seem to fit”.

“One has to presume that drugs were involved in the altercation,” Ms Swadesir said.

Originally published as Justin Harris pleads guilty to assault with a weapon over ‘no smoking’ rule